African print (Ankara) has taken a huge leap from the streets of West Africa to the hottest red carpets, videos and runways around the world.

Celebs like Beyonce Knowles, Rihanna, Fergie and Kelis have championed the cause for some time now, with Kelis rocking print fashion from African designer…Jewel by Lisa on a number of occasions.

Last year for her Spring/Summer 2011 collection singer turned designer Gwen Stefani presented a collection that featured mainly Ankara fabric…She wasn’t the only one however, last year African print was the theme on most of the runways…they called it tribal print. I call it Ankara because that’s what my momma, my grandmother and every other West African woman who use the fabric call it.

It’s about time West African fashion/fabrics got some mainstream recognition. I just wish that apart from Jewel by Lisa & Deola Sagoe, other African designers who are masters at manipulating Ankara fabrics are the ones getting paid to showcase their designs.

The Boxing Kitten, Suno & LAMB designs seen on Beyonce, Solange, Rihanna & Fergie are all from American designers.